Apparatus for cleaning swimming pools



Dec. 30, 1930. J. J. JOHNSTON APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SWIMMING POOLS Filed Dec. 3. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jal'd'aasan Dec. 30, 1930. J. J. JOHNSTON 1,787,274

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SWIMHTNG POOLS Filed Dec. 3, 1928 2 Sheets-sheaf. 2

I M n.

. 1a l 6 l0 INVENTOR.

Jug/64 mm:

Patented Dec. 30, 1930 J'ORDIE J. .romvs'ron, or ,ABrIinNE, ExAs APPARATUS non crinnnrnejswrmmne ,POOLS Application filed December 3,1928.- Srial No. 323,380.

This invention has relation to devices and apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like, and more especially the invention relates to means for cleaning tanks used for swimming purposes and recreation;

' In the operation of bathing and swimming pools it is necessary to maintain the tank or pool of water in as clean a condition as possible. For this reason it is necessary to empty the tank frequently, remove the accumulated drift and foreign matter and then refill the tank. This'operation consumes time and la bor, especially if the tank or pool is of appreciable dimensions.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of cleaning the pool or tank while the water thereof or there-.

in is of normal depth and without emptying or draining the water from the tank.

The invention further provides means for carrying out the above operation in a simple and inexpensive manner while the water is flowing in and out of the tank.

The invention includes other minor features, all of which will become apparent from a perusal of the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings and wherein: V Figure 1 in the drawings represents a side 9. elevational view of a preferred form of structure for cleaning a tank of the nature described,

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the same,

Z- .Figure 3 is a front elevational view,

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a pipe carrying the propellers, and Y Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional View through the pipe, the view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

The drawings will now bereferred to more in detail and the various parts of the device described, different numerals being used to -denote such parts. The preferred form of device or apparatus forcarrying out the invention comprises. a frame consisting of uprights l'and v2, the latter being two pieces of material between which a steering rod is disposed, or maybe a pipe or hollow element. In the drawings a wooden frame is shown but itiis evident that any suitable material may be used for the frame, such as steel. Suitable connectin'gbars 3 spaced apart: form the upper part of the frame, in connection with braceelements and 5. Y

The front part of the device or apparatus is supportedupon wheels ,6 while the rear portion thereof has a guide orfs'teering anddrive wheel 7 "The latter wheel is carried ona steering rod 8, traversing the element 2, and includes a handle 9 forv steering purposes.

.Positioned midway between the wheels 6 and suitably attached to the axle 6. and to the top portion ofth'e frame is a pipe 10.

This pipe extends above and below the frame,

the lower end having connected thereto a flared intake member 13 for sucking and drawing upwardthe water at the bottom of the tank, as willbe described. V I

The-pipe'10extendsupwardly in a slightly obliqueposition and at the upper end is an elbow 11, having means for connection with aflexible hose l2. I

ISpac'ed apart withinthe pipe 10 and carried on a shaft 14 are several propellers 15, in this instance four of them being employed. These propellers, one of which is shown in detail in. Figure 5, areeach composed of several blades 16, with a hub 16, secured to the shaft 14. q i y The shaft 14 has on its upper end a bevel gear,17,'in mesh with a similar gear 18, driven by a motor-19.7: r

-.The means formoving the apparatus over the bottom of atank and through the water is provided for by the sprocket wheel 20, chain 21 and pedals 22, in connection with a sprocket 23, carried on the axle of the wheel hereinafter more fully The pedals 22 and sprocket are supported on. the pedal shaft 24, fastened between the braces 5.

' ber 13 enables the suction tofaHect-a sufficiently large area ofthe tank bottom as to draw up the Water and foreign jmatterpexg2) peditiously and thoroughly. The apparatus I V A seat is indicated at V In the operation of the device crapparatus, the operator occupies the seat 25, and faces the motor 19 and manipulates the ped-. als 22 to, move the apparatus over the tank -bottom.

The motor being connected to a source. of electric current'by the wires 26,'i-revolves the shaft 14'; carrying the propellers The revolvingfproplellers suck upthe watenenter- V ing-through'inember 13-with sufficient] force 7 jto'remove the scum, dirt and foreign ,matter accumulated in the tank'if This flaredfmemmaybe constructed sufficiently high to' clean anyba-thing tank or'swimming pool, the water level beingthen about the height shown,

I i. e.,'just above the pedalsor thereaboutsQ From the foregoing, it willn'ow'be apparent, thatithe tank may be cleaned While the Water. isuflowing into 'the ta'nk "and simulta-' neously pumped out; The waterlevel is thus maintained, the waterpassing out-of the'tank. under thesuction of the propellers until the 1 water is clear again.v As soon as the apparatushas covered the-entire bottom surface of the tank the pool is again'ready for use.

The apparatus isvheavy enough and contains sufficient-metallic parts as to enable it to be firmlyseated uponthe tank floor; w

While the drawings reveal a practical working apparatus of thischaracter, obviously changes and modifications are capable ofbeinggmade, inke'eping with the appended claims; J -What is claimed as newis :1 o f "1. In an apparatus for cleaning swimming pools without emptying the pools, comprising'a traveling frame and: a cleaning device carried by the traveling frame, said cleaning device comprising a substantially vertical pipe having the lower end flared, a shaft extending the-length of said pipe and pro 50.

vided with a plurality of spaced propellers and; means operativelycengag'ed' to the upper end of said shaft for revolving the shaft, and'propellers.

v2. In a tank cleaning pparatua a hollow element having a shaft extending the length thereof; propellers spaced equi-distant apart on said shaft; a plurality of blades in each propeller a flexible elementattachedto the upper end :of'said -hollow zelement; gear on the upperend of said shaft; a secondgear adaptedto meshwith the first gear aj rnotor operating through said gears to revolve the 'sliaftv'and propellers'to' clean the tank of scum.

34An apparatus bf the ease described 

